Chapter Thirty-Four

  Early in the morning, Qian Tong received a call from Gu Qing.

  "Caught a cold?" Gu Jing asked, her voice nasal and heavy today, but very magnetic.

  "There is something." Qian Tong rubbed her nose and propped herself up, rubbing her eyebrows as she replied.

  "We agreed earlier to go see the painting exhibition today, can you still go?" asked Gu Qing.

  Xiang Qiong seemed to be suddenly awakened, lightly patting her forehead. She recalled last week when Gu Jing happily took out two tickets and introduced her to the art exhibition, as well as her favorite British author. Xiang Qiong knew that if she hadn't been born into the Gu family and couldn't choose her own path, she would have definitely chosen a career related to fine arts instead of finance.

  Although many people envy and are jealous of such a family, Qian Tong knows that whether it's Si Luo Chen or Gu Qing, there are things that others can easily do but they cannot.

  For example, career, emotions.

  Jian Gu was so happy that he agreed to accompany Qian Tong to the painting exhibition.

  At this moment, she had completely forgotten!

  "Sorry, I forgot. Just wait a minute, I'll get dressed and come find you." He said as he got up from the bed.

  "I've already arrived at your building, should I come up to find you or wait for you downstairs?" Gu Qing asked again.

  "Come on up, you have a key anyway, I'm hanging up."

  Yesterday I drank with Qian Tong until very late at night before sleeping, and now I still have a bit of a hangover, my head is spinning. Even walking the short distance to the bathroom, I had to hold onto the wall to manage.

  The apartment door was opened by Gu Qian, who was holding takeout in her hand. As soon as she entered the room, she frowned and covered her nose with her hand. For a moment, Gu Qian thought she had walked into the wrong room and even took two steps back to check the door plate before daring to enter, confirming that it was Xiang Qian's room.

  Looking around, there were bottles and jars everywhere. If I didn't know that Xiang Qiong had no friends in the UK, I would have thought she had a themed party last night! Xiang Qiong's room, which was usually spotless, was surprisingly messy. Gu Jing let out a soft sigh.

  Pull open the curtains and open all the windows, a stream of clear air rushes in.

  Casually put the bag on the sofa, took off the jacket and rolled up the sleeves of the shirt to enter the bedroom, also opened the curtains and windows, and simply tidied up a bit.

  Walking out of the bathroom with a refreshed spirit, Qian Tong saw Gu Qing helping her clean the room and hurriedly stepped forward to stop him: "I'll do it myself, the room is just a bit messy."

  "A bit messy?" Gu Jing patted his hands and returned to the living room, saying: "I'm starting to suspect your mental state now, go see a doctor."

  To Qian Tong: "......"

  "Later, I'll have someone come and collect you. It's a wonder you don't get sick in an environment like this." Looking at Xiang Qian Tong who was still sluggish from the effects of last night's drinking, he shook his head and sighed: "Qian Tong, if England isn't your ideal place, then go to a place you like. This...isn't good for anyone."

  Qian Tong hung his head and after a while said: "I know, it won't happen again next time."

  Gu Jing didn't continue on this topic, instead picked up breakfast from the table and smiled: "Can we eat now?"

  Qian Tong looked at the breakfast in front of her and said with a sense of guilt: "Fortunately, you are here."

  He said: "We're even."

  After finishing breakfast, the two of them left the apartment and headed together to the British Royal Oil Painting Exhibition.

  "I heard that this exhibition has works by Edward Burne-Jones, I've always liked him." Gu Jing said casually while driving.

  Xiang Qian Tong didn't understand these arts, while listening and browsing the introduction, saw the famous works mentioned by Gu Qing, responded: "He is quite good at painting women, I see that all his works are women."

  His painting style combines the medieval style of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood with classical rigor and aesthetic rhythm. The figures in his paintings have a sharp, flat feel, and he is particularly fond of depicting noble women, like angels.

  "The painting is quite good, it's just hard to understand." Xiang Qian Tong smiled and responded.

  Jian drove while introducing himself, expressing his views on art. He liked Van Gogh, liked Lautrec, disliked Picasso, and hated Chagall. Jian only knew one or two of these names, and didn't know when or which country they were from. Seeing Jian's enthusiasm, Qiantong quietly listened. This was a habit she had developed over years as a psychologist, where every patient would treat her as a confidant, sharing their dark, cold, and ruthless thoughts. What seemed dull and ordinary to some people was actually very colorful in their eyes.

  Moreover, what Gu Xian said was something she had never been involved in and was very curious about. So this not-so-short distance was passed quickly during the conversation.

  The car stopped at the entrance of the painting exhibition, and with the crowd queuing up to enter. Xiang Qiong looked around and found that the environment had indeed created a person, as soon as she walked in, it was like walking into an art palace, the vivid oil paintings made her eyes shine. Even though she didn't understand art, when facing each good work, she seemed to have grasped some artistic realm.

  There were many people in the painting exhibition, and it was very quiet. Everyone whispered to each other about their favorite works. Qian Tong stood alone with a handbook, following the guide to appreciate the artworks. Gu Qing had already run to her favorite artist's exhibition hall and was nowhere to be seen.

  "Towards Qian Tong!"

  A woman's voice echoed into Xiang Tong's ears, and due to the overly quiet environment, even slightly louder voices sounded extremely jarring, also attracting many disapproving glances. As the voice turned Xiang Tong around, he was taken aback.

  Is the world too small, or is fate too big? Looking at the woman in front of me who seems like a noblewoman, I couldn't help but curl up the corners of my mouth and reveal a happy smile. I walked closer and softly asked: "Lu Hui, what a coincidence!"

  "What a coincidence! This is England, after all! I didn't expect to run into you. What brings you here?" Lu Hui said as she glanced around, seemingly searching for someone else. After a while, she only saw Xiang Qian Tong and no one else familiar, so she asked in confusion: "I wouldn't have thought you'd be interested in oil painting, it doesn't seem like your style!"

  Qian Tong responded with embarrassment: "Accompanying friends to visit, I am currently working on this side." For so many years, he has always been unaccustomed to Lu Hui's enthusiasm and rapid speech.

  "Friend? Luo Chen, or is it Shao Ke?" Lu Hui thought for a moment and felt that wasn't right either. She said: "Luo Chen likes art but isn't particularly into oil painting, and as for Shao Ke... how could he like anything other than Sherlock Holmes? Or... is it your boyfriend?"

  Continuous questioning made Qian Tong unsure of how to respond.

  "How did you end up here?" Qian Tong smiled and countered, dodging her question.

  "My husband thinks I'm not artistic enough, so I came here to cultivate myself a bit. Didn't expect to run into you." She said with a gentle smile.

  Xiang Qian Tong just smiled and didn't say anything.

  Qian Tong?

  Gu Qian heard someone calling Xiang Qi Tong's name in the next room, so he curiously came over to take a look. Although Gu Qian was calling "Qi Tong", his gaze fell on this woman who was wearing high heels and was still half a head shorter than Xiang Qi Tong.

  After hearing the voice, he turned to Qian Tong and felt relieved. He introduced: "Gu Qing, this is my university classmate Lu Hui, who currently lives here."

  "This is my friend, Gu Qing."

  Lu Hui stared at her with wide eyes, sizing up the woman in front of her. The woman had a short haircut and wore a windbreaker, with a palm-sized face and sharp features that made her look like a quintessential English beauty. Smiling, she extended her hand: "Hello, Miss Gu."

  "Hello, Miss Lu."

  Xiang Qiong knew that if it weren't for Gu Qing's existence, Lu Hui would have dragged her away immediately with her personality. Not wanting to spoil Gu Qing's fun, she took the initiative to write down the phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to Lu Hui: "Let's get in touch another day, today is also not a waste, and we should give your husband an account."

  Lu Hui took over the phone and bid farewell to Gu Qing. Then she continued to appreciate along the guided route. Gu Qing also continued the appreciation route that had just started.

  Following Qian Tong's guidance in the album, they went to each exhibition hall to appreciate, until they stopped in front of a person-high oil painting.

  Looking at the painting in front of me, I don't understand some things. The woman emerges from a tree, her naked body tightly embracing the man. The man's eyes are filled with terror, while the woman gazes longingly at him.

  According to the introduction beside it, I know this is a work by Edward Burne-Jones, an author liked by Gu Qian.

  "This is a Greek story." A man's voice appeared behind Qian Tong, low and magnetic.

  As the voice fell, Qian Tong turned around, only to see a middle-aged man in a suit with a cold face and a long scar under his right eye, staring intently at the painting. He continued: "Jones used Greek mythology, Queen Phyllis of Theros Island fell in love with King Demophon of Milos who passed by. They fell in love and made an appointment to meet again, but Demophon did not show up as promised, and Phyllis eventually killed herself for love."

  "Suicide?"

  Xiang Qiong didn't continue staring at the man, but instead looked at the painting. Thinking about those tragic love stories, they were all passed down by later generations because of their sacrifice for love. These stories made Xiang Qiong wonder, was it that ancient people were too weak, or... is it that modern people are too heartless and selfish?

  "Hmm. Then Athena transformed her into an apricot tree. Later, Demophon returned to the island of Tres, he hugged this apricot tree, showing his longing, unexpectedly it suddenly bloomed...". The man said with a sigh as he looked at the painting.

  "But I saw a hint of fear in Demophon's expression." Although he didn't know who the man was, Sena still asked him.

  "There is another picture, not exhibited here, called 'Phyllis and Demophoon', which is the exact opposite of this one, and below it are the words of Ovid: 'Tell me what I have done, except for foolish love'."

  Qian Tong didn't quite understand the meaning of this sentence, and her gaze turned to the man. Perhaps it was because he told stories that made him not as scary as at first.

  Feeling Tong's incomprehension, the man's face was expressionless for a few seconds before he said, "In the world of emotions, there are always many things that are not understood. We should learn to accept them."

  Finding it reasonable, Qian Tong nodded in agreement.

  "Do you think she's beautiful?" The man glanced at Qian Tong and then looked back at the painting.

  "Phyllis? Ah, she's lovely."

  "She was modeled after the author's lover, hinting at... that unforgettable lifelong romance, so vivid and beautiful." The man finished speaking, turned around, and forced a faint smile on his face: "Sorry, because I really like this painting, so... I said too much for a moment."

  Qian Tong shook her head and replied politely: "I like it too, but I don't understand it. Thank you for introducing me to it."

  The man glanced at the figure in the distance and replied faintly, "That won't disturb you, there are many better works here, take your time to appreciate them." After finishing speaking, he turned around and left.

  Qian Tong nodded and didn't say anything else. He turned around and stared straight at the painting, thinking about Ovid's words.

  "How did I end up here?" Gu Jing stood beside Xiang Tong and asked while looking at the painting, "Do you also like Jones' work?"

  Xiang Qiong didn't answer immediately because she needed some time to digest the story that had just been told.

  "Gu Qing, Phyllis is modeled after the author's lover, an unforgettable romance... they didn't end up together, so he could only commemorate her existence in this way, right?" Xiang Qian Tong turned back to Gu Qing with a smile. The spotlight on the work illuminated half of her face, making her smile seem strange and fragile.

  Gu Jing was stunned, staring at Xiang Qian Tong without blinking. She admitted that at this moment, she was attracted to Xiang Qian Tong's beauty. Looking back on the process of getting to know him, apart from herself, probably no one had seen the helpless side of Xiang Qian Tong.

  Such a woman always makes people can't help but want to love her more.

  "Is foolish love wrong?" The woman who turned back to look at Qian Tong with the painting asked herself.

  "Qian Tong......" Gu Jing's voice was laced with concern, and he really wanted to give her a hug, but he knew he couldn't.

  Not wanting Gu Cheng to worry, Qian Tong adjusted his state and changed the subject, smiling: "Coming here finally understands the charm of art, no wonder you like it so much."

  With a heavy heart, he replied: "A master is always conveying the truth of love to the world, let us just learn more from it."

  "Perhaps he wasn't trying to convey any profound truth, that was all just made up by later people. He may have simply wanted to express his longing for the one he loved." Xiang Qian Tong gazed at Phyllis in the painting, saying with deep meaning.

  Gu Jing nodded in agreement: "Every time I think of Yan, I also do some things to relieve myself. The purpose is indeed very simple."

  Two people stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the painting for a long time. Then, turning to Qian Tong, he asked: "Have you ever regretted what happened with Xie Yan?"

  He hesitated for over ten seconds before slowly saying: "If I could turn back time..."

  "Me too!"

  "And you?"

  Qian Tong's gaze stared at Phyllis' eyes for a long time.

  In the end, he still didn't answer Gu Qing's question.

  American evening, Shen's home.

  Wang Shaokuo was frying bacon while talking on the phone with Si Luochen: "Do you have to call me so early?"

  Ever since Si Lu Chen returned home, there have been several phone calls every day for three days.

  "The jet lag hasn't worn off yet. By the way, are you still alive?" Shi Luo Chen said lazily.

  Wang Shaokai: "......"

  Seeing Wang Shaokui didn't respond immediately, he said in a low voice: "Are you still alive?"

  Even if you can't see Si Lu Chen's expression at this moment, you can imagine the slightly hooked smile at the corner of her mouth. She is that kind of woman, obviously very concerned, but her tone is always cold.

  "Hey! You're a ruthless woman!"

  Si Luo Chen stretched his waist and said, "Since the incident with Gu Qing, I've always felt like someone is following us. So you must be extra careful and lock all doors and windows. I checked, your neighbor two streets away is a police station, remember in America it's not 110 but 911, huh?" Si Luo Chen spoke in an extremely languid tone, telling a very cold joke.

  And this sentence needs to be reminded every time you make a phone call.

  Wang Shaokuo's face turned black: "Got it!"

  "I'll keep sleeping, you go eat, An."

  "Ah..."

  Only after hanging up the phone did he realize that the bacon in the pot was a bit burnt... Wang Shaokuo was thoroughly depressed.

  Look up at the sky with dry eyes.

  At night, Wang Shaokuo was lying on the sofa watching TV. Although his eyes were fixed on the TV, his mind was thinking about Si Luochen's words. In Wang Shaokuo's eyes, Si Luochen's intuition was like a witch's crystal ball...

  The distant "rumble rumble" of a motorcycle engine stopped next door, interrupting Wang Shaokui's thoughts.

  For three days, Wang Shaokuo had been making a simple tour of these streets. With her professional insight, she had a clear understanding of the surrounding environment.

  Who lives nearby, how many cars are there, whether there are children and pets or not.

  Judging from the tire tracks at the entrance, it can be seen that there is a motorcycle owner's home on this street.

  So...

  He picked up the remote control and turned up the TV volume, then tiptoed to the living room and dimmed the lights. He pulled out a fruit knife from the kitchen and crept to the window on tiptoes, where he saw a figure flash by. Wang Shaokuo's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he quietly approached the door, standing still with his back against the wall, gripping the fruit knife tightly as he waited for his prey to walk into his trap.

  As expected, someone stopped at Shen Lue's door.

  The next moment, the door lock was being opened by someone, and the sound did not seem to be made with a key.

  Wang Shaokuo bit his lip and held his breath, staring intently at that door.

  With a "click", the door lock was opened.

  The door lock turned lightly, opening a slit, and then opened wide. A slender figure stepped into the house, just as the other person had walked in halfway, Wang Shaokuo quickly pressed the switch from the side, and the dazzling light instantly filled the doorway.

  The person who came in subconsciously narrowed their eyes, and beside them a knife stabbed over...

  Thought everything was going smoothly, but found the other party lightly retreated one step, turned sideways and grabbed Wang Shaokuo's wrist with a reverse hand, and the knife in his hand fell to the ground. The other party pulled again, and Wang Shaokuo spun 180 degrees on the spot, with the opponent's arm hooked around Wang Shaokuo's neck.

  Wang Shaokuo's heart sank, and he was done for!

  He saw a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, and she leaned down by his ear, whispering: "You want to kill me, huh?"

  Wang Shaokuo was taken aback.